The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

SECTION LXVII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Janamejaya said, ’O worshipful one, I
wish to hear from thee in detail about the birth,
among men, of the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas,
the Rakshasas, the lions, the tigers, and the other
animals, the snakes, the birds, and in fact, of all
creatures. I wish also to hear about the acts
and achievements of those, in due order, after they
became incarnate in human forms.’

“Vaisampayana said, ’O king of men, I
shall first tell thee all about those celestials and
Danavas that were born among men—­The first
of Danavas, who was known by the name of Viprachitti,
became that bull among men, noted as Jarasandha.
And, O king, that son of Diti, who was known as Hiranyakasipu,
was known in this world among men as the powerful
Sisupala. He who had been known as Samhlada, the
younger brother of Prahlada, became among men the
famous Salya, that bull amongst Valhikas. The
spirited Anuhlada who had been the youngest became
noted in the world as Dhrishtaketu. And, O king,
that son of Diti who had been known as Sivi became
on earth the famous monarch Druma. And he who
was known as the great Asura Vashkala became on earth
the great Bhagadatta. The five great Asuras gifted
with great energy, Ayahsira, Aswasira, the spirited
Aysanku, Gaganamurdhan, and Vegavat, were all born
in the royal line of Kekaya and all became great monarchs.
That other Asura of mighty energy who was known by
the name of Ketumat became on earth the monarch Amitaujas
of terrible deeds. That great Asura who was known
as Swarbhanu became on earth the monarch Ugrasena
of fierce deeds. That great Asura who was known
as Aswa became on earth the monarch Asoka of exceeding
energy and invincible in battle. And, O king,
the younger brother of Aswa who was known as Aswapati,
a son of Diti, became on earth the mighty monarch
Hardikya. The great and fortunate Asura who was
known as Vrishaparvan became noted on earth as king
Dirghaprajna. And, O king, the younger brother
of Vrishaparvan who was known by the name of Ajaka
became noted on earth as king Salwa. The powerful
and mighty Asura who was known as Aswagriva became
noted on earth as king Rochamana. And, O king,
the Asura who was known as Sukshma, endued with great
intelligence and whose achievements also were great,
became on earth the famous king Vrihadratha.
And that first of Asuras who was known by the name
of Tuhunda, became noted on earth as the monarch,
Senavindu. That Asura of great strength who was
known as Ishupa became the monarch Nagnajita of famous
prowess. The great Asura who was known as Ekachakra
became noted on earth as Pritivindhya. The great
Asura Virupaksha capable of displaying various modes
of fight became noted on earth as king Chitravarman.
The first of Danavas, the heroic Hara, who humbled
the pride of all foes became on earth the famous and
fortunate Suvahu. The Asura Suhtra of great energy